striking nurses
- page 5

my 2 yo daughter was severely "damaged" because of a nursing strike. We were 2 weeks post op from open heart surgery. She went downhill fast one day. At hospital, we crossed the line to get her... Read More

I have never had to strike.
I have supported colleagues when they did.
They were striking over unsafe assignments and being floated to units where they were nor competent.
Since the ratio law was implemented I haven't attended a strike.
But have read about one called because the hospital system was not complying with regulations of the Department of Public Health and thus endangering patients. The nurses wanted contract language stating that the hospital would comply with the law.
When CNA/NNOC RNs strike the nurses scheduled to work and most of the others are outside in uniform ready to work if needed.
Nursing management is given cell phone numbers of "picket captain RNs" to call if there is any concern that patient care may be affected. Then on or more nurse(s) from the affected unit(s) will go in to provide care.

The strikes I attended this century staffed replacement RNs at nearly 1:1. The LVNs and secretaries told their RN co-workers that they and the managers helped with orientation and such.

Of course management could have prevented the strike by agreeing to continue bargaining in good faith.

Dead vs severe brain damage...splitting hairs aren't we. I have no idea where you people work that the conditions are so horrible that you have to walk out on patients, but it is not here. I am very vocal within the hospital where I have worked for almost 10yrs, but we don't have all of these problems the union nurses speak of on this forum. Even if we did, there is no excuse for walking out on patients. You all may be able to justify this in your union world, but that doesn't make it acceptable. If you don't like where you work, go elsewhere! Is it right for you to leave your patients in the hands of the unqualified? Is this how we(RNs) advocate for our patients? How do you think this father felt when the nurses who were supposed to be taking care of that child were childishly pointing the finger at the ones who were at the bedside at least trying to do their job? It is so ridiculous to even try to shift the blame to mangement! It was the fault of the striking nurses and noone elses.

dead vs severe brain damage...splitting hairs aren't we.no ,there is a major difference between the two , i would have thought you would know this , as a np !
i have no idea where you people work that the conditions are so horrible that you have to walk out on patients never have and hpefully never will , but if i do it will be as a result of a free vote by all the effected nurses , after management has recieved the required notice of a strike and with the offer that nurses will be available in the case of an event , remember also that nurse often give notice of a one day strike , management usually choose to lock the nurses out for several days , so i can easily argue that it is managements decision to extend the time the nurse are off their units ,that can lead to such events as the op stated .,
but it is not here. i am very vocal within the hospital where i have worked for almost 10yrs, but we don't have all of these problems the union nurses speak of on this forum. even if we did,so does your faclity have problems or don't they , it would appear that as you have to be very vocal , it may not be the eden you portray , also are you vocal for yourself amnd your sphere of influence , or do you assist others with their problems ?
there is no excuse for walking out on patients yep no excuses , but many possible reasons and as i keep saying in the real world nurse can not walk out on their patients management has been notified and it is for them to insure safe coverage for the patients.
you all may be able to justify this in your union world, but that doesn't make it acceptable. if you don't like where you work, go elsewhere!why not stay and try to improve / corrct the problems so that , they are corrected and do not cause suffering to future staff and patients ?
is it right for you to leave your patients in the hands of the unqualified? not my choice , having been duly notified , it is for management to staff as required by law , if indeed they did use unlicensed staff they should be reported to the appropriate authorities .
is this how we(rns) advocate for our patients? how do you think this father felt when the nurses who were supposed to be taking care of that child were childishly pointing the finger at the ones who were at the bedside at least trying to do their job?were in the op's note does it say this or is this another case of where the facts don't fit i'll make up what i feel like . no nurse , i know would respond in the manner you describe. it is so ridiculous to even try to shift the blame to mangement! it was the fault of the striking nurses and noone elses.

in the situation the op described , frankly what is the value of ascribing fault it will not help 1)the parents 2) the patient or 3) the nurses and management of that facility .(but of course it was managements fault )

as i have said on this thread and others picupnp , neither all management or all unionized nurses are evil .
take off your rose tinted glasses and accept that in labor relationships management plays the controlling part as to unionization .if management is good , there will be no cause for the nurses to come together to collectively campaign for unionization , so in the end it is managments responsibility to treat their greatest asset well ( in our case the nurses ) ifthey do so they need not fear an organizing attempt .unfortunately many managements take the authoritarian route and use intimidation to keep their staff in line.